GM5 - Broken Control Dial

Sadly the main control dial (thumb wheel) on the back of my GM5 has begun to work intermittently.
The push button aspect of the dial works fine, but the scroll/dial functionality is so intermittent it is basically useless.

This dial is so important on the camera and with out it I am unable to change any of the key exposure values like Sutter Speed, Aperture, exposure comp etc. . .

Just wondering . . Anyone else have this happen to theirs? Any button setting changes I haven't spotted that would give me back this control without using the rear control wheel? Anyone had good experience with Panasonic UK repair out of warranty?

It works fine on mine but I had a quick look and the only way to adjust settings without wheel is to use the touch screen. You need to press the disp button to get to the screen with all the settings (no live view). There you can touch any setting and then adjust on-screen. Not perfect but it works.

It works fine on mine but I had a quick look and the only way to adjust settings without wheel is to use the touch screen. You need to press the disp button to get to the screen with all the settings (no live view). There you can touch any setting and then adjust on-screen. Not perfect but it works.

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Nice ONE!!! Being able to adjust the settings this way is exactly what I was hoping to find. THANK YOU.

I will still look into repairing the camera, but I'm not longer in a rush as this option makes the camera usable again.

I went to the local Radio Shack store (electronics, pieces and parts) and purchased a can of cleaner/lubricant for electro-mechanical devices (supposed to clean contacts and the like). After one spray, the dial wheel seems to be operating like new. Thanks gnarlydog!

P.S.: The pressure out of the can is quite strong. If I ever do this again, I would mask the entire camera with paper & tape save the wheel itself.

I went to the local Radio Shack store (electronics, pieces and parts) and purchased a can of cleaner/lubricant for electro-mechanical devices (supposed to clean contacts and the like). After one spray, the dial wheel seems to be operating like new. Thanks gnarlydog!

P.S.: The pressure out of the can is quite strong. If I ever do this again, I would mask the entire camera with paper & tape save the wheel itself.

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it was just something I read and not tried personally but I guessed it was worth passing on
Glad that your GM5 is back on the road with all the wheels working

How does one spray the cleaner onto the contacts inside? Is dismantling required?

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If it's like I did with my E-P5, it requires no dismantling. Just spray some cleaner into the crevice where the dial meets the body, and rotate the dial to ensure the cleaner/lubricant reaches the insides.

The cleaner I got -- Deoxit, I believe -- has an adjustable nozzle that lets you set the strength of the spray. I set it to low and applied only the briefest squirt I could manage

If it's like I did with my E-P5, it requires no dismantling. Just spray some cleaner into the crevice where the dial meets the body, and rotate the dial to ensure the cleaner/lubricant reaches the insides.

The cleaner I got -- Deoxit, I believe -- has an adjustable nozzle that lets you set the strength of the spray. I set it to low and applied only the briefest squirt I could manage

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Hmm I wonder whether that would be effective for a weather sealed E-M1...

Been following this thread for a while and just wanted to say thank you for the heads up on this (old) topic! My GM5 suddenly developed this problem with the scroller wheel too, and I felt so gutted since I just love this camera.

Following the suggestions made above, here was my procedure:

Bought a can of WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner, covered up the camera with paper so only the scroller wheel was exposed, turned the camera so the scroller wheel faced the ground (to let out any excess cleaner fluid), placed the tip of the spray straw to the wheel and gave a short burst of fluid and then immediately rotated the wheel left and right several times to 'spread' the fluid around. A couple of minutes drying time later (it dries quickly and leaves no residue), I powered on the camera and BOOM! Scrolling wheel is functioning again!! So flippin' happy I don't need to send it off to repair, or worse, retire it from use.

I know this post is a bit long since it's covered in far fewer words above, but I just wanted to give a more detailed account in order to give hope to others who get this problem too. GM5 for life

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